Godfrey Tarling

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Godfrey Tarling

Godfrey Tarling BSc.(Hons), MSc., FRICS, FBEng

I was born in Kent in 1960 and went to school at St. Dunstan's College, Catford gaining O' Levels in English Language, Mathematics, English Literature, Geography, Physics, & Chemistry and A' Levels in Engineering Science, Geography, and the inevitable General Paper, together with First and Second Form Prizes and the School Prize for Engineering Science in 1976-8. I was also Head of the R.E.M.E. Platoon of the school's Combined Cadet Force.

Originally brought up in the Open Brethren Whitefoot Chapel set up by my Grandfather when the Downham Estate was first being developed in South East London; I spent my teenage years at Christ Church Bromley being a member of the YPF. Whilst there new neighbours moved in next door who had served in Ethiopia and as a typical 13 year old the lemon cakes at the monthly mission prayer meeting held in their house kept me attracted and interest in Crosslinks (Then the Bible Churchmen's Missionary Society) began to develop.

I was trained in Building and Construction Management gaining both Bachelors and Masters Science Degrees from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh; where I also gained a half Blue for Fencing having captained the University team for the last two years of my time there. I was an active member of the Christian Union, University Chaplaincy and St. Thomas', Corstorphine where I met Rachel during my final year.

Following University I continued my training whilst working for the London Borough of Greenwich and was elected to Corporate Membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 1986. From there I went into Private Practice for six years. In 1993 I became a Fellow of the Association of Building Engineers, and in 2005 I was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

On returning from University I gradually became more involved in the work of Crosslinks, first running the local prayer group, before being invited onto the South East Area Advisory Group, the Education Advisory Group, which resulted in my being elected to the General Council (Policy Making Group) of Crosslinks in 1989.

I married Rachel at St. Mary's Reigate in 1988 and settled at St. Nicholas', Sevenoaks where I became Vice Chairman of the Missionary Committee before being 'Sent' out to Tanzania..

Since 1993 I have been setting up and running a Building Engineering Department and Surveying Office for the new Diocese of Mpwapwa. This has entailed selecting and training key individuals in design, supervision and management skills. It has also necessitated both strategic and fundamental projects to facilitate basic infrastructure, including the construction of secondary schools, medical health centres & dispensary outposts, a Kindergarten and Library for a local Government Primary School (which was officially opened by His Excellency President Benjamin Mkapa in 1998), the development of the Cathedral and its immediate site, the Development and restoration of buildings at the Provincial Theological College, St. Philip's, Kongwa; and the oversight of parish churches and pastorages. In addition there are land boundary surveys to be undertaken in order to register land with the Tanzanian Government.

I enjoy camping, travelling, fell walking, photography, computing and badminton.